PUBLIC LIBRARIES
The Moline, Illinois Public Library and Carnegie Building 0Min.w\,
A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF PUBLIC s LIBRARIES # THE HISTORY OF THE MOLINE, •1 ILLINOIS, PUBLIC LIBRARY AND NEW CAR-' NEGIE BUILDING, OPENED JANUARY 26, 1904
o
By WILLIAM A. MEESE
^nr-M-IE STORY of a book is an in-
1 teresting one, but the story of
JL books is a subject that is fascinating, old and mythical. Who made the first book? On what was it written or carved? What was its subject? Where was it accomplished? These are all questions that have not and never can be answered.
Bookmaking began with writing, and writing, as Carlyle has said, “is the most miraculous of all things man has developed.” Who invented writing? The question takes us back into the dim past and its answer is hidden in the mythology of mankind. The Egyptian will tell you that Thoth invented writing, the Greeks say Hermes, the Buddhist avows that it was Buddha, while the Scandinavian claims that Odin was the founder of writing and poetry; but by whatever race the claim is made its origin is always attributed to the gods.
Africa and Asia were the pioneers in libraries. At Agane, in Babylonia about 2000 B. C. there was a collection of books made of clay. This collection was catalogued and two poems are still preserved; one on the Deluge, and one on the descent of Istar into Hades.
But the earliest recorded collection of books was the one owned by the Egyptian king, Rameses I, B. C. 1400, at Thebes, which bore the inscription “Dispensary of the Soul.”
We read of Xerxes carrying off to Persia from Athens the library founded by Pisistratus, and that Sulla brought to Rome the library once owned by Aristotle; this latter collection consisted of some 1400 rolls of parchment, and Plato names Aristotle s home where it was stored, as “The House of the Reader.” During Hadrian’s reign, 120 A. D., there were in
Rome 29 public libraries.
The history of books and libraries is both fascinating and vast, but it is the public library of today that appeals to the general student.'
Early Popular Libraries in Germany.
We must turn to German history to learn of the popular library. A historian of the period of Martin Luther writes, “It was mainly owing to the mental energy of the German reformers and to the latent intellectual sympathies which were by them aroused into vigorous life, that the duties of an educational sort which developed upon towns in their corporate character, were brought into prominence,” and we find at the close of the sixteenth century popular libraries established in many of the towns of Germany which devolved upon the towns the duties of an educational nature.
Switzerland was not Slow to pattern after Germany, the library at Berne having been founded in 1548, and in many of its towns libraries were established, some of which were cantonal, others municipal.
In England the city of Norwich established a city library in 1608, and Bristol’s was founded in 1041 when it accepted the library of one of its citizens with the provision that it was thereafter chargeable with its support.
Leicester established a public library in 1632.
In Colonial Days.
Thus the early colonists of New England were probably familiar with public libraries before they landed on Plymouth Rock, yet we find few traces of public libraries during the early colonial days.
^ rWe find the first record of an American library in the entry in the rec-: ords of the Virginia company of London, at the daté, November 15, 1620. It states that a stranger - presented “a mapp of Sr Walter Rawlighes con-tayinge a descripcon of Guiana, and with the same fower great books as the Guifte of one unto the company.” which books he requested might be sent to the college in Virginia. This college was the one at Henrico at the confluence of the James river and the Chickahominy. This institution was short lived, it having been destroyed at the time of the Indian massacre of March 22, 1622.
Harvard University library was founded in 1638, by the gift of the private library of John Harvard.
The first record of a free town library in America was in the year 1700, when the Rev. John Sharp, chaplain of his majesty’s forces in New York city bequeathed his private books to found a public library. This library did not prosper greatly, and when in 1754 citizens of New York founded a public library by subscription, the city authorities seeing that they were successfud, turned over to them the books of the public city library, which was the beginning of the New York Society library which is still in existence and has about 100,-000 volumes.
In 1731 Benjamiii Franklin founded a proprietary library in Philadelphia. In his autobiography written in 1771, he says, “and now (1731) I set on foot my first project of a public nature, that of a subscription library.” He says that he procured fifty subscribers of forty shillings each to begin with, and ten shillings a year for fifty years, the term the company was to continue. How well it succeeded we may learn from what he says forty years after its founding (in 1771) ;
,“It has become a great thing itself, and is continually increasing. These libraries have improved the general conversation of the Americans, made the common tradesmen and farmers as intelligent as most gentlemen from other counties and perhaps have
- contributed in some degree to the stand so generally made throughout the colonies in defense of their privileges.”
. This library, while its circulation was confined to its subscriber has always been free to every one for reference use. It now numbers over 200,000 volumes.
A Hundred Years Ago.
At - the beginning of the last century these was an awakening of interest in the cause of education. In the New England states academies and seminaries were established in nearly every county; these were endowed with grants of land. Associations were founded whose object was the purchase of books, which were usually kept in the: parsonage. Dr. Porter in his book entitled “Books and Reading,’,, says of one of these libraries :
“It was founded in 1795 and still survives, numbering with all its losses by use, sale and distribution, nearly 2000 volumes. At the time referred to, it consisted of 700 books. These books were kept in substantial and locked cases in the front and rear halls of an old-fashioned square dwelling house. The meetings for drawing and returning books were held on the first Sunday evening of every month. The shareholders, or their representatives, assembled in the ample kitchen, which was always made tidy and cheerful for the grave assembly of the chief personages of the village. As one and another dropped in, each with his monthly load of books (three was the quota) and was so credited, he took his place in the circle which speedily numbered some twenty or thirty. Conversation had already started in knots or in common, upon topics of fresh interest at home and abroad, in which the freest interchange of opinion was indulged. The exchange was immeasurably superior to that of the improved newspaper for the vividness and interest of the impression.
“To boyish ears and minds, the revelations of character and the utterance of novel thoughts were most in-
2structive and exciting. When the time for receiving the books arrived, the names were drawn by lot and the person whose name was first had the choice of all the library. The newest books were naturally preferred. Every book as it was drawn was set up for a bid, which rarely in those frugal times exceeded more than eight or ten cents for the sharpest competition even for the last Waverly series, but all this has gone by. The library now stands in the office of the town clerk, is open at all times, and the excitement of the library meetings has vanished forever.”
The history of the New England states during the beginning of the last century, teaches that the observance of the Sabbath was strictly enforced by religious and moral precepts and by strict statutory law; yet we find that the only time when the town library was open to the public was on Sunday night, which shows that the Puritan must have believed that good re-suited from the Sunday auction, this general discussion of town gossip and news of the world, and I believe that we today who have had opportunity to observe Sunday opening of the public library, and the judicious use of Its rooms and books, feel that it is a worthy undertaking, productive of good, both moral and intellectual.
It may be claimed that the Sabbath of the Puritan commenced in some states at sunset on Saturday and ended at sunset on Sunday, and in some it commenced at sunrise on Sunday and ended at sunset on Sunday, and therefore the library was not open on Sunday, but this custom of opening the library on Sunday night continues long after the Puritan Sabbath ceased to be the legal Sunday.
The library of the United States, or as it is now called, the congressional library, was established in 1800, by the purchase of five thousand dollars’ toorth of books at the time of the removal of the capital to Washington. August 24, 1814, the British army, by order of General Ross, burnt the cap-itol building, destroying the congres-
sional library, which then consisted of 3000 volumes.
Congress then voted $23,000 for the purchase of the private library of ex-President Jefferson, which consisted of 6700 volumes and which has since grown to number 840,000 volumes, beside 250,000 pamphlets.
There are no libraries in America whose number of books exceed a million, while Europe possesses five, each of which has over a million volumes on its shelves.
In 1837 there were in the United States twenty public and university libraries, having upward of ten thousand volumes each. The largest library then was the Philadelphia library which had 44,000 volumes.
In 1849 there were only forty libraries which had over 10,000 volumes. In 1864, there was a decided increase, and we find 104 libraries having 10,000 volumes or upwards»
Laws in Aid of Libraries.
The first state to ehact a law for the establishment of public libraries was New York, which took the initiative in 1835.
New Hampshire passed a library law in 1849, and Massachusetts in 1851, and today there are but fifteen states out of the forty-five that have not state library laws. New Hampshire, however, in 1895 enacted a law compelling every town to assess a tax annually for a public library. In 1896 there existed in the United States 1200 free public libraries supported by taxation, and there were 4026 collections which contained over one thousand volumes each, the aggregate number of volumes being over thirty-three millions. This was an increase of twenty-seven percent in five years.
The state of Illinois passed its library law in 1872, and it was approved and became effective March 7, 1872. In 1898, there were 309 libraries in our state having over one thousand volumes, of which number 154 are supported by taxation. The total number of volumes contained in all of the public society and school libraries in our'state was 2,474,710, exclusive of pamphlets, and during the year 1899 more than three million volumes were circulated. Of these 309 libraries one contains more than 300,000 volumes three others more than 100,000, three others more than 50,000, six others more than 25,00, thirty-seven from 10,-000 to 25,000, forty-eight from 5000 to 30,000, and 211 from 1000 to 5000 volumes. These 309 libraries includes 115 general libraries, 97 school, 45 college,7 as college societies, and the other 35 as law, medical, theological, his torical, state, society and other special libraries.
The public library and the public schools are but one common system of American popular education. They should always be open and free to all, unhampered by secular or political power. They should work together in harmony, because each has become a necessary adjunct to the other.
First Moline Library Directors.
In 1872 Eugene Lewis, then a practicing lawyer of Moline, John T. Browning and others were instrumental in securing the passage by our legislature of the library law. At the time of its passage, our town was agitating the movement looking toward the incorporation of the town, as a city under the general law, and the library question was postponed until the municipal matter was disposed of.
At an election held Aug. 29 the citizens of Moline voted to change from a township organization and organized under the general laws as a city, and at a meeting of the new city council of Moline held Sept. 18, 1872 Just twenty days after the change the records show, that,
“On motion Messrs. J. T. Browning, J. C. Starr, W. H. Russell, H. H. Grover, Eugene Lewis, S. H. Velie, H. A. Ainsworth, William Becker and Eric Okerberg were appointed,library directors of the city library.”
Daniel L. Wheelock was our first mayor, and this apointment was one of his first official acts.
On the 21st day of September all of the directors, save Mr. Okerberg and
Mr. Becker, met at the city council chamber. The mayor having made the appointments without reference to the term of office, the board cast lots, which resulted as follows: H. A. Ainsworth, William H. Russell and Howard H. Grover were selected for three years; J. T. Browning, Eugene Lewis and S. H. Yelie for two years, and J. C. Starr, Eric Okerberg and William Becker for one year.
At this meeting an election was held for officers, which resulted as follows: President, John T. Browning; vice president, J. C. Starr; secretary, H. H. Grover.
Shortly after the organization in November, 1872, Mr. Okerberg resign-ed^and the mayor appointed Charles Atkinson to fill the vacancy.
This first board was typical of Moline and well represented her progressive and cultured class. William H. Russell was superintendent of our public schols, William Becker was of German birth and was superintendent of the German school, maintained by the Concordia-Germania tumverein; J. C. Starr was one of the stockholders in and secretary of the Moline Paper Co.;
S.	H. Velie was secretary of Deere & Co.; H. A. Ainsworth was president (and is now) of Williams, White & Co.; Eugene Lewis was a lawyer (now in Salt Lake); H. H. Grover was secretary of the board of education and had some years previous been the superintendent of our city schools; John
T.	Browning was, and is still, engaged in the law business in this city; Eric Okerberg was Moline’s pioneer jeweler, a progressive, yet conservative citi-ezn of Swedish birth, and Charles Atkinson, who succeeded him, was one of Moline’s earliest and most prominent citizens, and president of the Moline Water Power Co.
It will be seen that eight of the nine directors who undertook the founding of our public library were of New England stock, that element which has so forcefully and materially left its imprint for good on our city.
The board after organization met almost weekly and at a meeting held November 2 adopted rules and by-
4laws for the government of the library, which rules were ordered printed in the Moline Review, a weekly paper published here, and at that time the only newspaper published in Moline. It was later consolidated with the Dispatch, and its name survives in the vreekly Review-Dispatch.
At a meeting held Nov. 9, the following committees were appointed as provided in the by-laws.
Executive—Messrs. Starr, Velie and Grover.
Finance—Messrs. Browning, Velie and Ainsworth.
Einglish books-—Messrs. Ainsworth, Russell and Lewis.
Foreign books—Messrs. Becker, Russell and Ainsworth.
First Money.
The city council in November authorized a tax levy of eight hundred dollars for library purposes, which sum was deemed insufficient. A number of plans for raisiné money were suggested, and at last a public subscription list was started Dec. 17, 1872. The subscriptions were made payable in one, two and three years. Five thousand eight hundred and sixty-four dollars and thirty cents was subscribed. Some of our ladies having organized a lecture committee agreed to raise five hundred dollars. Anna M. J. Dow as president, Mrs. C. C. Starr as secretary, and Eunice G: Sales and Flora N. Candee, affixed their signatures to the subscription book, and thus guaranted this amount, and to their honor and credit they were the first to pay their first installment of $250 Feb. 11, 1873, their second $200 June 14, 1873, and their last installment of $50 April 4, 1874.
First Donation.
At a meeting held Dec. 28, 1872, the Greeley and Brown club sent a communication to the board tendering a gift of $11.80, which tender was received on the terms specified in the communication. The records do not disclose why the club tendered the money or what, were the conditions attached, but it is safe to presume that as
Ulysses S. Grant had been elected president, the club had no further use for the money, and I would note, that this is the only case on record in this city where a political club had, at the end of a campaign, funds in its treasury.
Location of Library.
At a meeting of the directors, held January 4, 1873, two propositions for rooms for the library’s use were received.
One from S. W. Wheelock for the south half of the second story of the postoffice building, this being the old stack and receiving room used until the moving into the new Carnegie building, and the other from John Deere for the second story over “Morey’s drug store,” what is now the corner of the postoffice building.
Messrs. Velie, Lewis and Ainsworth were appointed a committee to select rooms and “report at 5 p. m. 6th inst.”
On the 6th inst, presumably at 5 p. m., the board again met, but had no more propositions, and after discussing the two on hand, adjourned to meet “Thursday evening the 9th inst. at 5 o’clock.”
At the meeting of the 9th J. C. Starr was instructed to submit to S. W. Wheelock the following proposition, regarding the leasing of roms in the (now) Wheelock building.
“The rooms to be rented for a term of five years. The first year rent free, two hundred dollars ($200) per year rent for four years thereafter, payable at the end of each year. The library directors having the right to terminate said lease at any time on giving six months notice, in case they become possessed in their own right of a building or rooms, or if as large and every way as good rooms are offered for five years rent free. These said rooms to be finished off in good style, with one partition and suitable doors between, and to be finished Feb. 20, to 25, and the said five years to commence from the day of taking possession by the library board.”
The board adjourned to meet Jan. 11, 1873, at half past 7 o’clock. At
5this time Mr. Starr presented a lease as per his instructions at the previous meeting, which' was, on motion, accepted and ordered executed by the president and secretary on behalf of the board.
The records convey only that which was done not ~ why, or how. At this time the postoffice which had formerly been on Wells street, now Second avenue, just west of what is now Sixteenth street, had been removed to the building so long the home of our library.
. Our two plow factories being then, as now, the largest employers of labor, there existed between them a spirit of rivalry. S. W. Wheelock the head of the Moline Plow Co., seeing the possibilities of Fifteenth street, had erected the building which afterward became the library, and had made a lease with the United States government for the south hall of the first floor lor the postoffice. John Deere, being the head of the Plow company's rival, fought tenaciously to keep the postoffice on or near Third avenue, but failed. Next to the post-office the library was considered the great attraction, that would cause people to visit that locality.
First Meetings.
The first meeting in the library rooms was . on April 29, 1873, and Sept. 12. Previous to this time there had been twenty-two meetings, five in the council chamber, nine at the office of Eugene Lewis and eight at the office of John T. Browning.
First Donation of Books.
At the meeting held Jan. 11, 1873, Mr. Lewis notified the board that he had received from the Hon. John B. Hawley, forty-one volumes of the Congressional Globe and other public documents. Mr. Hawley was the congressman from this district, living in Rock Island. At the next meeting Lamon's Life of Abraham Lincoln was received from Maj. James Beardsley of Rock Island.
On February 27, 1873, the first order for books was placed. It consist-
ed of 1008 volumes of the Tauchnitz edition of British authors.
The first papers in the library were: Dailies:	Chicago Tribune and Inter
Ocean, New York Times, Rock Island Union and Argus, Davenport Democrat and Gazette. Tri-Weekly St. Louis Democrat, Semi-Weekly New York Tribune. Weeklies, Springfield (Mass.) Republican, Boston Journal of Commerce, Literary World, Independent, Geneseo Republic, Harper’s Bazar. Magazines: Harper, Scribner, Old and New, Littell s Living Age, Galaxy, Eclectic, Art Journal, Aldine, Popular Science Monthly, Boston Journal of Chemistry, six of the papers being contributed by Kennedy & Tillinghast (Sam Kennedy of Moline and B. F. Tillinghast, now editor of the Davenport .Democrat).
First Librarian.
At the meeting of the board held March 29, 1873, Kate Holt was elected librarian. There was one other applicant, Miss Cornwall. Mrs. Holt acted as librarian up to March, 1887.
Opening of Library.
May 10, 1873, a committee of ladies of the library lecture committee appeared before the board “for the purpose of ascertaining their opinion relative to the propriety of having an entertainment at the opening of the rooms. The board favorably considered the, proposition, but set no time. Bnt at a board meeting , held May 31, the records show that the ladies' committee was again present* and that the board “requested the committee to hold their strawberry festival Thursday evening, June 12, 1873.“ This way the opening day.
Librarian's First Report,
The first report of the librarian was made August 28, 1873. It shows fines collected up to date $7.60. Feb. 14, 1874, all .monthly reports of the librarians were ordered to be reduced to tabular form and made a part of the record.
First Janitor.
Was Henry Martin, a colored man, the executive committee having been
6instructed August 28 to engage the services of one.
Enlarged Quarters.
The library prospered as far as attendance was concerned, and it was deemed advisable to occupy the entire floor of the building for library purposes; consequently the tenants who had been occupying part of the second floor were notified to vacate, and Wednesday, October 22, 1878, the library was closed to permit of the necessary changes being made.
The work of remodeling was completed Dec. 12, the same year, and Dec. 14 the ladies gave an oyster supper at the reopening. From all reports the entertainment was an up-to-date affair. It was in charge of Mesdames J. M. Gould, S. H. Velie, Julia M. Dunn, A. S. Wright, E. G. Sayles, P. L. McKin-nie, H. O. Whipple, J. M. Christy, Henry Hull, Peter Reed, W. G. Morris, B.
R.	Towndrow and C. R. Ainsworth. The musical features were furnished by Mrs. J. B. Davison, Miss Marcia Towndrow, W. T. Ball and Prof. Lyman Gregory. Henry Lewis acted as toastmaster and the guests were furnished bouquets by Miss Mary Nourse. The toasts were numerous and were responded to by H. A. Ainsworth, Eugene Lewis, Rev. E. C. Barnard, Dr. P. L. McKinnie, Rev. Geo. F. Linfield and H. H. Grover.
As a return the ladies handed over to the library board $124.60 as an addition to the library fund.
Second Enlargement.
Up to 1885 Doric lodge had occupied the third floor of the building. Its lease having expired, the library board concluded it wise to occupy the entire second and third floors, consequently the library was closed and the work of remodelling again commenced.
The third floor was changed into a lecture hall, the stairway leading to the second floor straightened, and the entire interior was changed and refurnished.
The ladies gave a banquet and like» its predecessors, it was a success. W.
S.	Mack, superintendent of schools;
R. E .Call, principal of the high school; Prof. E. J. Esbjorn of Augustana; the Rev. W. L. Sanders and C. W. Phillips responded to the toasts. There was added to the library fund $194.55, and the board again recorded itself by voting thanks to the ladies and especially to Mesdames S. H. Velie and W. K. Sloan.
Library Lecture .
February 27, 1884, the Rev. P. S. Henson delivered a lecture in the opera house on “The Worship of the Golden Calf.” This lecture was the result of the work of the ladies, of whom Mrs. C. W. Heald was at the head. As a result $60 was added to the library fund.
There were other entertainments which were alike successful, all in charge of the ladies, and the part the women of Moline have taken in our library is worthy of especial and honorable mention.
S. W. Wheelock Makes Offer.
Within a few years after opening the library became very popular; the attendance increased rapidly, and the directors began looking * forward to the time when more room would be needed. They cast about, trying to devise plans hy which they could secure for the library a permanent home. The records show that at one meeting of the board,. J. Cl Starr submitted plans for a new building; but at a meeting held March 10, 1877, Mr. Lewis submitted the board of directors a proposition from S. W. Wheelock, offering to donate the rooms then occupied together with certain others.
The board apointed Messrs. Lewis, Starr and Grover to investigate the Wheeloc k proposition and to report at a special meeting to be held March 15.
Wheelock Gift Accepted.
March 15 this committee reported that they had suggested several changes which had been agreed to by Mr. and Mrs. Wheelock, and the acceptance of the deed conveying certain rights in the library building was recommended to the board of directors. The deed was accepted and the library
7from thence on had a : permanent home.
The deed is dated March 10, 1877, but r is acknowledged on the 15th, the date of acçeptancé, and is. made to the board of directors of the' Moline public library, their successors and assigns forever.
The consideration stated in the deed is $1 in hand paid “and for the reason that they are desirous that the Moline Public Library may become a permanent establishment, and that they wish to make a gift to it, to the end that it may always hereafter own and control a library building suitable for its purposes.”
This deed conveys to the library board the second story with its immediate use, the third floor, with the rents after June 22, 1880, when the lease then held by Doric lodge, A. F. and A. M., expired.
Incorporated in the deed were certain requirements:
Requirements.
1.	Thé building should be known as “Wheelock Library hall.”"
2.	The directors were to furnish and maintain the building for a library, for games, amusements, music, art gallery, specimens in natural history, geology, mineralogy, botany, and kindred sciences.
3.	In case of damage to or destruction of the building all insurance to be used in rebuilding.
4.	¡The library board could not sell the premises during the life of S. W. Wheelock, nor within fifteen years after his death, or the date of the deed, and should they then sell, the proceeds were to be used for a new library to be known as “Wheelock Library hall.”
Reservations.
5.	W. Wheelock reserved to himself, his heirs, and assigns the right and title: to the basement and first floor. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wheelock died, and he left no will or directions as to the disposition of his property. The number of heirs being large, and the indications for a legal contest over the estate being, very promising, the: library board was somewhat at sea, so that when the Wheelock interest in the Li-
brary building was offered for sale at public auction by order of the circuit court, the board of directors on March 30, 1897, bid in the same, thus becoming sole owners of the property, free fiom any future legal entanglements.
The clause in the deed, of special interest is as follows: “Conveying the perpetual use of the, first story of the building known as the postoffiee building, and the basement thereof, except such part of the said basement as the directors of the Moline Public Library might need for heating purposes and for the storage of fuel, therefore including all the estate reserved out of said tract of land in said deed from said Wheelock and his wife, to the directors of the Moline Public library.”
The Library board were the purchasers thereof, paying therefor $1978.
Years of Contention Ended.
The stairway to the library had been moved from Fifteenth street, where it originally was, to Library street, and was on ground not included in the library deed, so that when tne property was offered for sale by order of the circuit court the Library board on the 11th day of October, 1895, purchased the two-story building just east of the library on Library street, for the sum of $1750. Considering what it would have cost to build a new stairway and rearrange the entrance on the second floor, the price paid for this last piece of property may be considered nominal.
These two purchases were necessities, yet they diverted $3728 of the library fund from the purposes intended, and have crippled the book-buying ever since, but they forever settled what was once and for many years a matter of contention, and often of bitterness, and finally Moline people knew that they owned the ground the library rested bn.
New Quarters Sought.
With the increase in our population the enlargement of our factories and their gradual encroachment on the library, the board of directors felt the need of a larger and better equipped building and one more suitably locat-ed. The state law in relation to libraries having been changed to meet just such conditions as, existed in Moline, the board, at a meeting held Feb-ruray 17, 1900, appointed a committee to prepare plans and an estimate of the cost of a new library building, including the cost of grounds.
At a„ meeting held March 6, 1900, plans were presented to the board, and the committee was given further time iB order that several towns having new buildings might be visited.
At the April meeting a committee was appointed to secure a site,: and detailed plans of a new library were presented. March 1 the committee on site reported that it had secured an option on one. After the board had almost concluded on a new building, ?t was discovered that the library board could not issue bonds for a new build? ing, because the city’s indebtedness was almost up to the legal limit.
In August, 1901, a committee was appointed to see if the Unitarian church could not be purchased.
Ask Carnegie for Aid.
During this time Andrew Carnegie had been generously giving to various cities the necessary funds to erect new library buildings and it was thought worth the while to write to Mr. Carnegie asking for aid. Several letters were written but no reply was received.	*
In July, W. A. Jones wrote to Mr. Carnegie setting forth the needs of Moline for a new Library building, and in the latter part of August he received a letter from James Bertram, private secretary to Mr. Carnegie, in which he said:
“Responding to yours of July 23, if the city of Moline will furnish a suitable site and agree to maintain a free public library at cost of not less than thirty-seven hundred dollars a year, Mr. Carnegie will be glad to provide thirty-seven thousand dollars for the erection of a free librar ybuilding.”
At a meeting held September 13, the following resolution was: unanimously passed:
“Wheras, Andrew Carnegie has of-
fered to provide the sum of thirty-seven thousand (37,000) dollars for the erection of a free library building, for the city of Moline;
“Whereas, The only requirement on his part is that the city of Moline will furnish a site and agree to maintain a free public library at a Cost of not less than thirty-seven hundred (3700) dollars a year; and
“Whereas, Thé income of the Mo? line free public library from the library tax, is provided for by ordinance (passed March 1, 1880), has for the last four years been more, than thirty-seven hundred (3700) dollars for each: year, exclusive of other in? come which makes it nearly five thou? sand dollars per year; therefore be it
“Resolved, That we the directors of the. Moline free public library, do hereby request the city council of Mo? line and the citizens of this city to provide a suitable site upon which to erect a free public library building in our city and thus accept this offer; be it further
“Resolved, That : we, the directors of the Moline free public library* in our own behalf, and on behalf of the citizens of Moline, and especially on behalf of those citizens whose attendance at the library in the last year amounted to 66,437, do hereby tender to Andrew Carnegie our sincere thanks for his generosity and public spirit in the cause of education.
“Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be spread on our records and a copy sent to Andrew Carnegie, and to the city council of Moline.”
The New Site.
The most important question now was to secure a site. There was no lack of lots offered for sale. The city offered the location at Fifth avenue and Fourteenth street, but it was not deemed suitable, and at a meeting held Dec. 3, 1901, Ezra L. Eastma* was engaged to circulate a subscription list among our citizens; asking that they contribute ten thousand dollars to be paid for the S. H. Velie lots, our present location. At a meeting held January 7, 1902, it was reported
9that the subscriptions had reached $10,050.
“A building committee consisting of C. A. Barnard, L*. D. Dunn, R. C. J. Meyer, O. F. Anderson and William A. Meese was appointed, and they were instructed to engage the service of an architect.
This committee advertised for bids, and on January 31; 1902, spent the entire day examining plans and in consultation with six different architects, who had submitted plans and were present. After carefully going over the plans “the committee unanimously decided to employ F. Borgolte as architect of the new library building,” and all who' have seen the building and its interior arrangements bear witness to the good judgment of the committee in this particular at least.
The board in the meantime had received word from Mr. Carnegie’s secretary and also from his financial agent stating that they had instruction from Mr. Carnegie to make payments to the extent of $87,000 on account of library building at Moline, and “upon receipt of request signed by the prop-erlibraryoffices I will be pleased to make remittances in amounts of $5000 as needed.”
And it is worth noting that there was no hitch or trouble of any kind. The "money was called for when needed, and came When called for.
The city having during this time guaranteed that the thirty-seven hundred dollars yearly appropriation be made for library purposes, a not very difficult proposition, as the library board was receiving about $4000 from the two-mill library tax, at the meeting held March 3, 1902, the president and secretary were instructed to purchase for the board of directors of the library the Velie lot for $10,000, which was done.
The months of May, June and July, 1902, were busy months for the board, but by August the plans were ready and bids were asked for. It was then discovered that the building desired would cost more than the board had to spend, and no end of time was spent in trying to get a building that
would be like the present plan, and still be wtihin the means on hand. The bids were opened August 5, 1902, but action was necessarily deferred.
October 9, 1902, all bids were rejected and Architects Borgolte and Wells (Mr. Borgolte having associated with him, Wm. Wells) having amended the plans, presented these amended plans, which were adopted, and bids were again asked for.
Contracts Are Let.
October 18, 1902, the board let the contract for the building to Peter Peterson for $38,500; the electric wiring to the Tri-City Electric Co. for $290, and the letting of the plumbing and heating contracts was postponed. Mr. Peterson’s contract did not contemplate anything being done in basement or second story.
November 17, 1902, the building committee was reduced to three, and was made to be composed of Messrs. Barnard, Anderson and Meese.
December 10, 1902, the contract for the plumbing, gas fitting and sewerage was let to Dan Hartwell for $800.
November 10 a contract for installing the heating plant was made with the Moline Heating and Construction Co. for $1800. This included, however, only the heating of the first floor.
March 3, 1903, A. E. Froyd & Co. were awarded the contract for furnishing the hardware, the same to be of solid bronze, for the price of $245.
Cornerstone Laid.
The 2d day of May, 1903, the cornerstone of the new library was laid. The board deemed it best to have no public exercises, and at 2 o’clock in the afternoon the members of the library board, representatives of the press of Moline, and a few other citizens, assembled at the grounds and deposited in the cornerstone a copper box, 4x4x8 inches in side. The cornerstone was laid at the northwest corner of the library building. The following was deposited in the box, after which it was sealed:
A condensed history of the Moline Public library.A summary of the finacial statement of the library at the end of the fiscal year just past.
A summary of - the, secretary’s report to the city council.
A list of officers of the city for the years 1902-03.
A copy of the Mail for August 30, 1902, announcing the gift of Mr. Carnegie.
Copy of the Journal and Dispatch for Sept. 1, 1902, announcing gift by Carnegie
Copy of Dispatch, Journal .and Mail for May 1, 1903.
Business men’s circular of Moline*
Sample of each blank and stationery used at the library.
“Beading list on birds” for Bird day, April 12, issued by Moline Public library.
Certified copy of ordinance of the city council establishing library.
Certified copy of ordinance of city council guaranteeing $5500 per annum support to library.
Names of members of library board, officers and committees, also the statement showing the date of the appointment and the names of the first directors, the first lease of premises for library purposes, and a statement of the gift of Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Whee-lock.
In July, 1903, the terms of office of Messrs. William J. Davis and Joseph B. Oakleaf, who had been appointed respectively in 1900 and in 1902, the latter to fill the vacancy caused by the death .of Dr. W. K. Sloan, having expired, Messrs Matthew J. McEniry* and George W. Vinton, jr., were appointed as their successors.
Messrs. Davis and Oakleaf had rendered efficient service, having been members of the board from the time of the commencement of the draughting of the plans up to that date.
April 23, the board contracted with the Johnson Temperature Controlling Co. to equip the main floor of the building with the. Johnson temperature regulator for the price of $464.50.
Equipment Committees.
To provide for the fixtures and furnishings, the president was authorized
to appoint committees, which were as follows:
Stack — William A. Meese, L. D. Dunn and Henry S. Hanson.
Decorative committee—O. F. Anderson, August H. Arp, Matthew J. Mc-Eniry.
Furniture committee—R. C. J. Myer, George W. Vinton and William A, Meese.
Carnegie’s Second Donation.
Through the efforts of.Charles A. Barnard, president of the hoard, Mr. Carnegie increased his gift, $3000, thus making the total donation $40,000, the city in the meantime guaranteeing our revenue would be at least $5000. annually.
Stacks.
The shelving of the books had been a problem that had occasioned considerable thought on the part of the board. Owing to the lack of funds it was thought that metal stacks could not be placed in the building, but Aug. 22, after a thorough investigation and hearing from four respective firms who made stacks, the board entered into a contract with the Art Metal Construction Co. to furnish the metal stacks at a cost of $2270, the same firm also receiving a contract to make two metal card catalogue cases.
Gas and Electric Fixtures.
August 27 the Electric Construction and Machinery Go. was awarded the contract for furnishing the combination gas and electric fixtures to be used on the first floor of the library, at the price of $600.
Furniture.
The tables, children’s bookcases, magazine rack, dictionary case, portfolio rack, and newspaper rack were made by the Moline Furniture Co. The board, on Sept. 8, i903, entered into a contract with said company at the price of $1250.
Decorating.
At a meeting held Get. 15, 1903, the decorating of the first or library floor was let to Frank A. Lundahl for $695.
The decorating or the upper floor
11and the basement was let on the 15th day of December to Charles Kneberg for $150.
Second Subscription.
At a meeting held Oct. 15, 1903, Ezra Eastman was engaged to ask of our citizens a second subscription of money to go toward completing the furnishing of the library, and on the 15th day of December he reported to the board that he had received subscriptions in the amount of $3300.
Book Binding and Janitor.
It had long been the desire of the board to establish a bindery where books when slightly damaged might be taken for repairs, which would be a great saving of books. Nov. 3, 1903, the board entered into a contract with Henry Martens for three years, he to take charge of the building, act as janitor and do the bookbinding.
The Grading of the Grounds.
The grading of the grounds was commenced in December, the contract having been let to Tim Kennedy, but owing to the weather the grounds have not been completed.
Completion of Building.
At a meeting in December, 1903, it was ordered that a contract be made with Peter Peterson to complete the basement and second floor, except the basement under the document room. This has been done and the entire building is now complete, with the exception of furniture and fixtures for the second floor.
The contract price for completing the lecture room and closet, club and art rooms, director’s room and anteroom, smoking room and children’s room, except plumbing and lighting, was $3000.
Shades.
The contract for the Venetian shades was let to Hull Brothers, they to be of quarter-sawed oak, at the price of $230.
Floor Covering and Chairs.
The furnishing of the linoleum for the floors in the first story and the stack room was let to the Union
store for $415. The chairs were supplied by the Dewend-Kuschman Furniture Co. for $550.
YEARS OF SERVICE.
Some of the Men Who Have Long
Given Their Services to the Moline
Public Library.
Some of the directors have seen long service—the longest continuous service having been that of Eugene Lewis, who acted from the founding of the library up to 1892, a period of twenty years.
S. H. Velie and John T. Browning also served from the organization until 1890, a period of eighteen years.
Dr. W. K. Sloan was appointed in 1883 and served till 1893. He was ofl the board one year, having been reappointed in 1894, after which he served till his death in 1901, making a total service of eighteen years.
The Rev. H. O. Lindeblad served from 1881 till 1892.
Dr. L. D. Dunn was appointed in 1877 and served till 1892, a period of fifteen years. He was reappointed in 1893, and is now a member and in the eleventh year of his second period of service. The doctor has been on the library board twenty-six years, or six years longer than any other director.
On the present board, Henry S. Hanson has rendered eleven years of efficient service, ten years of it as the board’s secretary—a service which has been gratuitous.
Directors.
The following is a list of the names of those who have been directors: John T. BrowningCharles Atkinson
J. C. Starr,
W. H. Grover,
W. H. Russell, H. H. Grover, Eugene Lewis S. H. Velie,
H. A. Ainsworth William Becker Eric Okerberg
A. S. Wright George Atkinson J. M. Gould John Deere E. C. Barnard. Dr. L. D. Dunn Dr. W. K. Sloan J. T. Francis Rev. Lindblad
12C. L. Grimes W. S. Mack C. E. White E. E. Wheeloek J. W. Warr H. D. Hatch Henry Vierich B. C. Caldwell Myron Jordan Frank W. Gould
Li. P. Wheeloek Geo. H. McKinley W. F. Eastman Harry Ainsworth Wm. Butterworth John H. Porter Walter E. Tolies Thos. M. Sechler Willis J. Davis J. B. Oakleaf
Present Board.
The directors now in charge of the library are:
Dr. L. D. Dunn, appointed in 1893. Henry S. Hanson, appointed 1893.
Dr. R. C. J. Myer, appointed 1895. Chas. A. Barnard, appointed 1896. Wm. A. Meese, appointed 1898.
Dr. A. H. Arp, appointed 1902. Matthew J. McEniry, appointed 1903.
G.	W. Vinton, jr., appointed 1903.
Secretaries.
The following have acted as secretary of the library board:
H.	H. Grover, Sept. 21, 1872 to Aug. 14, 1882.
W. S. Mack, August 14, 1882, to Febb. 1, 1889. (Resigned.)
C. L. Grimes, Feb. 1, 1889, to Aug. 7, 1894.
Henry S. Hanson, Aug. 7, 1894, still secretary.
President.
John T. Browning was the first president, serving from Sept. 24, 1872, to Sept. 11, 1875.
John M. Gould, from Sept. 11, 1875, to Dec. 6, 11881. (Resigned.)
Eugene Lewis, Dec. 6, 1881, to July 2, 11883.
L. D. Dunn, July 2, 1883, to July 12, 1892.
F. W. Gould, July 12, 1892, to July 6,
1897.
L. D. Dunn, July 7, 1897, to July 5,
1898.
C. A. Barnard, July 5, 1898, now acting.
Vice Presidents.
The following have been vice presidents of the board.
J. C. Starr, 1872 to July 7, 1877.
E. C. Barnard, July 7, 1877, to Sept. 5, 1878.
J. T. Browning, Sept. 5, 1873, to Oct. 3, 1881.
E. Lewis, Oct. 1881, to Dec. 6, 1881.
J. T. Browning, Dec. 6, 1881, to Aug. 14, 1882.
W. K. Sloan, Aug. 14, 1882, to July 2, 1883.
H. O. Lindeblad, July 2, 1883, to Aug. 3, 1886.
C. L. Grimes, Aug. 3, 1886, to Jan. 12, 1889.
W. H. Hatch, Oct. 7, 1890 to July 12, 1892.
W. F. Eastman, July 12, 1892, to Aug. 7, 1894.
W. K. Sloan, Aug. 7, 1894, to July 5, 1898.
R. C. J. Meyer, July 7, 1898, to Aug.
1,	1899.
L: D. Dunn, Aug. 1, 1899, to Sept. 9, 1901.
R. C. J. Myer, Sept, 9, 1901, to Sept.
2,	1902.
O. F. Anderson, Sept. 2, 1902, the present vice president.
Of the present directors, Dr. L. D. Dunn has twice been president of the board, once vice president, and has served several years as chairman of the book committee. Dr. R. C. J. Myer has twice been vice president Mr. Barnard, Mr. Hanson and Mr. Anderson are now incumbents in office and William A. Meese has been chairman of the library committee since his appointment on the board.
All the data in this sketch is from the records, but in the early years of the library’s history the records were not as complete as they have been the last fifteen years.
Present Officers.
The present officers of the board are:
President—Charles A. Barnard.
Vice President-—O. F. Anderson.
Secretary—H. S. Hanson.
Committees.
Executive—O. F. Anderson, chairman; August H. Arp, George W. Vinton, Matthew J. McEniry and the president.
Library Committee—Wm. A. Meese, chairman; H. S. Hanson, L. D. Dunn, R. C. J. Meyer and the president.
13Librarians.
As has been stated, Mrs. Kate Holt was the first librarian and served from March, 1873, to March, 1887. On the first day of March, 1887, Miss Minnie Kohler was elected librarian, and she is now entering on the seventeenth year of her service. The first assistant librarian was Andrew Ullmark. He served about two months, in February and March of 1880. In April of 1880 Frank Dufva was appointed assistant librarian, and served until May 1886.
Ed Parsonage was elected assistant in October, 1886, and served up to February, 1890; Myra Allen assumed the duties of assistant in February, 1890, and acted until November, 1899 —Miss Hattie Skogh, present assistant librarian, came to the library in July, 1898, and in September of that year was elected assistant. Vera Brumbaugh, also acted as one of the assistants from September, 1898, to May, 1899, and has on several occasions acted as substitute.
Janitors.
The first janitor of the library was Henry Martin, a young colored man, who was here attending school, and he afterward attended one of the colored educational institutions in the south. He was succeeded by N. C. Tyrrell, and he by Ned Dunn. In September, 1883, Aunt Ritchie and her husband were elected janitors, and served until their death, Since then the work, up to the time of moving into the new building, was carried on by their daughter, Mrs. Jerry Busey.
Treasurer.
Although the state law made the city treasurer ex-officio treasurer of the board, the board for many years after its organization had its own treasurer. S. H. Velie was appointed to this position Feb. 17, 1878, and was reappointed till 1890. He was the only treasurer the board ever had. Having its own treasurer was a good feature for the board especially in its early days, as it frequently happened during the library’s early career that its
„ financial condition was very bad and the treasury depleted, but with Mr. Velie as treasurer the board did not fail in meeting its bills, Mr. Velie standing as sponsor for the same.
H. H. Grover.
Mr. Grover, who had been superintendent of our public schools and was also serving as secretary of the school board, was the board’s first secretary, and served ten years, or until ten years, or until 1882, when W. S. Mack, the then superintendent of public schools, was appointed in his place. Mr. Grover was one of the men to whom is largely due the splendid collection of reference works now on our shelves. He, together with Messrs. Lewis, Browning, Velie, Starr, Ainsworth, Dunn, Sloan, all men of liberal and broad education, took great interest in the library and especially in laying the foundation for the reference library department.
The Candee Collection.
Much has been said in regard to the title to the Candee collection, but the records show that on July 2, 1893, a committee was authorized to purchase the same, which was done. This was once a valuable collection, in geology, mineralogy, etc. It has been moved to the new building and placed at the entrance of the basement or first floor.
LIBRARY COSTS $05,000.
The library on this, its opening day, has cost upward of $65,000. Of this $10,000 was paid on the grounds. Forty thousand was the gift of Mr. Carnegie. The balance is represented by other moneys raised by subscription and by moneys saved by the board from its book fund, it having been deemed best to erect as large, commodious and well equipped a building as possible, with a view to the future growth of the city, i believe that our citizens are all of the opinion that the board has had value received for very dollar that has been expended.Circulation.
Av.Mo. Yrly. Ay.Dly. Ay.Mo. Yrly.
1879.	..2423	29071	59	1551	18619
1880.	..2139	25699	54.6	1374	16491
.1881.	..2060	24719	46	1188	14223
1882.	..1990	23882	43.7	1118	13412
-1883.	..2033	24394	43.7	1148	13780
1884.	..2314	27769	45.6	1205	14467
1885.	..2073	26071	48.6	1224	14694
1886.	..1948	20449	41.2	1018	10685
1887.	..1450	7251	33.2	817	4085
.1888.	..2050	24590	42.4	1090	13083
1889.	..2338	23381	• • « •	• • • «	12212
1890.	..2271	22714	« • • •	• • • •	15197
1891.	..2354	25800	s . . *	• • • •	16840
1892.	..2655	29212	• • • •	• • • •	12276
1893.	..2354	21193	• • • •	• • • •	19249
1894.	..3045	34053	• • • •	• • • •	17495
1895.	..2962	32583	• • • •	• • • •	19554
1896.	..3066	33696	• • • •	• • • •	22748
1897.	..4034	48418	• • • •	• • * «	21455
1898.	..3969	39690	• • • •	« « • •	34987
1899:.	..5013	60165	• • • •	« • • •	38757
1900.	..5601	67815	• • • •	• • • •	44321
1901.	..5536	66437	• • * •	• • • •	42570
1902.	..5722	68699	• • 1 «	• • • «	43136
1903.	..5697	68376	• • • •	• « • •	• • • • •
The total yearly circulation in 1875 was 10,663 volumes; in 1876 it was 11,-691; in 1877, 13,142; in 1878, 15,077.
Number of Borrowers, Etc.
The following shows the number of volumes in library from 1882 to 1889, inclusive; the total number of volumes in library from 1882 to 1889, inclusive; and also the percent of juvenile and adult borrowers from 1879 to 1889.
To this table may be added these facts. The volumes in the library after 1889 were: 1890, 7046; 1891, 7474; 1892, 7850; 1893, 8199; 1894, 8413 ; 1895,
8609;	1896; 8956;	1897	9361;	1898,
9526;	1899, 10,675;	19oo	12,330	; 1901,
13,204	; 1902, 13,756	; 1903,	13,951.	
		Percent		
	Borrow-	of Books.		Voi in
	ers.	AcUnt	«Juv.	Library
1879..	......1465	58.8	41.2	• • • •
1880..		 975	62.1	37.9	• • • •
1881..		 1050 :	66.2 .	33.8	• • • •
1882..		 1211	66.3 •	33.7	5184
1893..		 1120	67.2	.32.8.	6173
1884..		 1143	57.2	42.8	6306
1885..		 1237	51.6	48.4	6327
-188G........v: 1303	50.8 - 49.2 - 6327
1887	............... i 44.8 . 55.2:	6316
1888	............... 50.5	49.5	6393
1889............... i 49.2	50.8	6813
The statistics are rather incomplete because the annual reports now on file date back only to 1885. The figures previous to that date are gleaned from reports of later years. There are figures to show that in 1875 the attendance was 19,890; in 1876 it was 19,890. In 1877 the library contained 4000 volumes.
NEW LIBRARY OPENED.
•Moline's handsome new Carnegie library building was thrown open to the public for the first time at 2 p. m. on Tuesday, at which hour the public reception marking the dedication of the building was started. The library is now open for the circulation of books.
The interior was decorated with smi-lax festooned about the chandeliers and with flags and bunting, which with the brilliant lighting completed a striking effect. Had the weather permitted the decorations would also have concluded a profusion of plants and flowers. Ogden’s' orchestra furnished music, and the Moline Piano and Organ works generously supplied a piano for the musical program.
The host of visitors was greeted by members of the library bbard, and by Miss Kohler, the librarian; Miss Skogh; the assistant’librarian, and the Misses Brumbaugh, Grantz and Johnson, assistants. Before the reception closed at 10 o’clock the visitors for inspection of the elegant quarters reached well into the thousands.
The greatest pleasure of the board lies in the general expression of delight from the people over the attractive design of the building and the sentiment is-universal that the work has been well done. The board members modestly reflect the credit to the selection of so capable an architect as Mr. Borgolte. has proven to be, and the architect responds in like vein by 'voicing the harmony and smoothness which has characterized the progressof the work and the aid that Contractor Peterson has given in this respect.
It is now just two years since the building plans were first taken up. The delay was occasioned by the inability to provide from the fund available a building to meet the needs of the growing city that Moline has become, and it was necessary to devise plans to secure an additional contribution from Mr. Carnegie. The building plans too had.to be revised to meet the fund. This was not accomplished till in the summer of 1902, and during the fall of that year the first actual building work was done in the excavating for high basement and the heating plant. Active construction began with the opening of the spring of 1903.
Architect Borgolte’s design is of Grecian architecture, and this style is followed in all the particulars. Including the high basement there are practically three ^oors for library use, and above is a spacious attic for storage purposes.
The main and only public entrance is on Seventeenth street and is of handsome design. A board walk leads to an imposing portico flanked on either side by massives stone columns extending almost to the eaves. Above the wide entrance doors is the simple word “Carnegie,” indicating to all who enter or observe .that the building is another monument to the philanthropy of great iron manufacturer. Double doors with heavy plate glass lead to the main stair hall where access to all parts of the building is gained.
To the right a stairway leads to the basement and to the large center corridor which the board has employed for the display of the fossil collections and other display of like nature to be added as it accumulates. The men’s smoking and reading room is to the right of the corridor and is fitted with tables and chairs designed to invite an hour or two of cozy comfort for those who indulge in the weed. Reading material will be secured from the librarian at her desk on the main floor and may be carried to the smok-
ing room for the entertainment of those who smoke while reading. On the opposite side of the corridor is the room designed for the future use of the children. It has been completed and made ready for the furnishings when there is ample fund to purchase them and the capacity of the main floor of the building is taxed. A huge fireplace promises to assist in making the room inviting for the young people.
Under the stairway are the men’s toilet room, and to the rear of the corridor is the main storeroom with a spiral stairway leading to the stack room and the librarian’s desk. This will be used by the custodian of the building and the librarian. On one side of it is the book bindery department— the new feature just added— and on the other the main receiving room, where all consignments for the library will be delivered and unpacked. This room is equipped with an elevator for lifting books to the stack room. The boiler and coal room set deeper in the ground is reached either from the receiving room or by double-door entrance similar to that leading to the receiving room.
Recognition of Donor.
The stairway leading to the basement leads also to the main floor, and the general library quarters are separated from tne stair hall by large glass partitions which permit a general survey of the entrance and stairs from the librarian’s desk. Heavy glass doors lead from the hall and on either side are copper memorial plates, one bearing this legend:
“This building is the gift of Andrew Carnegie. Its furnishings and the grounds were given by the citizens of Moline. F. F. Borgolte, Architect.”
The other plate bears the names of the library board serving during 1903, when the building work was in progress:
Messrs. Oakleaf and Davis are not members of the board at present, but during their term which expired in July, 1903, they rendered faithful service on the board, and it is a mark
16of recognition that their names are included.
The entrance to the main library-leads to a rotunda with the librarian’s desk opposite the doors and the stack room directly behind the desk. On either side of the entrance are double bulletin boards for announcement of interest to library patrons. In the center of the rotunda is one of the handsome • massive oak tables supplied by thé local furniture works where those investigating catalogues will secure their information and data. Here in the rotunda, too, will be a special cabinet filled with the latest books for ready reference by those looking for something fresh to enjoy. A, drinking fountain in onyx placed to the left of the entrance gives an air of elegance to the rotunda.
General Reading Room.
To the right of the rotunda is the general reading room with the best of light from expansive windows on two sides. There are eight of the long oak tables each with individual light clusters and six large chandeliers to heighten the orilliant effect at night. The reading room, together with the children’s and ladies’ room to the left, are also supplied with broad fireplaces to make the surroundings cheery when the fall and spring weather is damp and raw.
The children’s share of the library proper occupies the great portion of the north side of the rotunda and brings this department directly under the supervision of the librarian. Shelving in the same substantial quality of oak serves the double purpose of ready access by the children to the literature especially for them and also as a screen to partition off the ladies’ department. The ladies have tables and comfortable chairs, including rockers, and a desk at which to write. Toilet rooms are in close proximity.
Stack-Room Arrangement.
From the rear of the librarian’s desk the building is fireproof, and the attention of the board has been concentrated here with an eye to the future. The handsome art metal stacks
radiate from the desk as spokes from a hub, giving the librarian a view of her desk from whatever aisle she may be in. The stacks are so built that when the Horary equipment of books overflows the present capacity, it will be possible to lay a glass floor over the present stacks after removing the coping, and a new series of stacks will radiate from this second floor as do the ones now installed. The stack-room arrangement provides for three tiers of stacks and a total capacity of 50,000 volumes. The spiral stairway leading from the store-room to the stack-room will be continued on to reach each of these tiers as they are added and the book elevator will serve likewise for all three.
The stack-room is in artistic colors and about the border of the octagon are the inscriptions denoting the literary character of the room:
'Music, Art, Philosophy, Science, History, Religion, Sociology, Travel, Biography, Fiction, Poetry.
To the right of the librarian’s desk and conected with the general reading room is the reference room, and on the opposite side is a private office for the librarian’s use. The card catalogue rack stands at the junction of the rotunda with the general reading room.
Large Assembly Hall.
The second floor is provided with a large assembly room to the left of the stair hall. It is done in terra cotta and has a cheery fireplace and toilet rooms in connection. It will oe available for entertainments possibly and at a future time for an additional reading room.
The center room of this floor is designed for special exhibits of art, and the lighting arrangement is such that it will be possible to attain a brillance of effect on the various walls by the use of prisms.
Two room, one for committee work and one for general meetings, to the right of the stair hall, have been set aside for the library board, and in connection therewith is a larger room also designed as a meeting hall, possibly by the board of education and other public boards.
17